SAFETY - BE SNAKE AWARE - VIDEOS

Understanding something about snakes is the best defence against snakebite.

In the accompanying videos you'll see some of Australia's best-known snakes in action. Being able to distinguish dangerous from harmless from lethal is important. In the unlikely event of a snakebite here's the St Johns Ambulance advice on what to do.

1. Follow DRABC (if you don't know what that means you need to enrol in a first aid course).

2. Rest and reassure the casualty.

3. Apply a very firm pressure immobilisation bandage - quickly.

4. Splint the bandaged limb to immobilise it.

5. Ensure the casualty does not move.

6. If in phone range, call an ambulance (000). A satellite phone is necessary in remote areas.

7. Write down the time of the bite and the time when the bandage was applied.

8. Stay with the casualty.

Black Headed Python

TheBlack-headed Python is more likely to squeeze a venomous snake to death than a human, but is often mistaken for a Tiger Snake

Brown Tree Snake

Often aggro, but relatively harmless. The Brown Tree Snake is sometimes confused with the dangerous Eastern Brown, but has a much bigger head and distinctive bulbous eyes.

Carpet Python

A beautifully marked, non-venomous snake that's commonly seen. Carpet pythons won't give you any trouble, unless you interfere with their stately existence.
A bite may not be life threatening, but can be extremely painful.

Coastal Taipan

You certainly don't want to get bitten by one of these! The Coastal Taipan is one of the deadliest snakes in the world and, with its two other Taipan relatives,
is widely spread in inland Australia.

Death Adder

Death adders eat small prey and will avoid humans unless you happen to stand on one accidentally. The bite is highly venomous.

Eastern Brown

Fast, large and often aggressive, the Eastern Brown Snake is to be avoided at all times. The venom is deadly.

Green Tree Snake

Beautiful, delicate and harmless - unless you're a frog! Green tree snakes vary in colour and size, but can often be seen coiled up in tree branches.

Mulga Snake

Big, mean and widespread in Australia. The Mulga Snake is active and delivers a massive amount of venom in its bite - give it a wide berth!

Red-bellied Black Snake

Shy but still venomous.The Red-bellied Black Snake will scuttle away when alarmed, but is dangerous if cornered.